The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-07-03
IN A GERMAN KITCHEN.
Servants Whose Entire Time Belongs to Their
Employers.

Employers.
Berlin Letter in Kansas City Journal
The German salon may disappoint u.s. but the
German kitchen is charming surprise. It is
In itself q domestic poem-really the prettiest.
most unique room in the establishment. Small
bright, inviting! The clean, painted floor, the
blue and white porcelain range; these two items
alone form basis of beauty and cleanlness-a
beauty and cleanliness easily kept. 1t is not I'M
common that the floor is of stone or marble.
laid In pretty figures. and the tresooed cell
ings add their harmonious coloring. Above the
stove are shelves for stove utensils; here the
brass kettles, iron vessels ranged in order are
like classic ornaments One can here easily
adopt Ruskins theory shat beauty lies in utility
On rows of bright brass hooks hang pitchers
mugs OF all varying sizes. from giant to dwarf.
Think of tin some kitchens each hook ia tied
with little blue ribbon. 1t is not poem? Es-
thetics ID practical housekeeping Life here
cannot be the drudge it is usually thought 1t
Is a noble idea to bring beauty into this sphere;
and those who must spend their days in a work
which seem SO removed from the beautiful NAV
still ind brightness and beauty in their sur
roundings. See how it dignifies labori What
pride, self-respect, pleasure are infused!
Well. the servants in Germany have few priv
ileges-not the Thursday and SUNDAY outinps
that America gives; SO it is right that the place
where they are so confined should be pleasant
spot There is regular system to this question
of service in Germany. Servants must be-
framed. Cooks pass an apprenticeship in hotels.
ana house-girls must be perfectly competent in
sewing and mending. Their time belongs to
their employer, and, If the work in the house ia
finished: the time is used in darning or knitting
for the family. The girls have reference books
and as they go from one place to another the
mistress writes her opinion of the Qualifications
OF the girl This class is very restricted in priv
lege, and tho pay is small. A good girl receives
from $50 to 500 year. She frequently asks for
extra remuneration for doing without certain
meals and these few marks add to her slender
income One servant at the pension never ate
the Sabbath evening meal, as she wanted to pro-.
vide her family with sugar for the year and tool
this means to DO it. OF course their expenses are.
small. az they nsvsr attempt to dress az their
mistressss. aud wear the same GARD as a clnse
They are always on the outlook for chance 70
60 to America, and it 10 not to be wond cred A.
Caste binds them here: in America not onIv
higher wages and freer life, but perchancs the
fulhllmert of ambitious dreamsi Our American
ladies can easily secure servants To taka hacl
with them These girls. however are reallvun-
prepared for tho American household-the cook
Tag ls SO entlreiy different, we work SO much
faster, and our housekeeping is SO mucb more
complex.
The German houses have no closets; and even
In the Kitchen, aside from the country. there ara
none A cupboard with glass doors supplies the
deficiency fancily cut paper covers the shsIvas
on which are arranged the cook 10 dishes-iars in
ascending grades, bowls in descendino scaia.
a gay Kitchen calendar hangs here, with a daily
be learned while at work AS education 10 com.
pulsory. all servants can read and write How
much pleasanter does such a surrounding ,naka
1;f 'aoor, 'he very fact that this department of
me Is thus recognized, and not wholly severed
from the higher life as though between than q
E NJ CUR were nxed, must ennoble the work
lne "nole domestic department. is thus given its
true piace-not despised, unthoueht Of hn, on
essential factor in family life worthv NJ thoraht
In the worlds economy deliehtfnl 1ahor and
sphere not divorced from the world of haartv
49, psogress. something we learn from
tnese herman kitchens. that those working there
may De happier more content and NAV Ana 800
satisfaction In their work and il NAV solna ~
pss.sn no" sexing social life-the servant-girl